HAALAND WILL RAISE THE BAR

Look out, world... Pep says Erling! will be even better this season

PEP GUARDIOLA warned that Erling Haaland is ready to terrorise Premier League defences once again after the Manchester City striker showed why he’s big in Japan. 

Haaland, who scored 52 goals as City won the treble in his first season at the Etihad, came off the bench at half-time to score twice as the Blues started their pre-season tour with a victory over J League champions Yokohama Marinos.

The Norwegian goal machine needed six minutes to put the Blues ahead for the first time with only his third touch of the ball after City had recovered from going two goals behind to draw level by the break thanks to a quick-fire riposte from John Stones and Julian Alvarez.

Haaland’s arrival produced the biggest cheer of the night from the 61,618 fans who packed Tokyo’s impressive National Stadium – and the prolific ponytail sent them home happy by finding the net again in injury-time. Guardiola (right) said: “Compared to this period last season, Erling is fitter now than when he arrived. He looks good. He is still some way from his best condition, like everyone, but it was important for him to score in the first game because he didn’t score at the end of last season.

“It is important he knows our rhythm and principles and we are working all the time. We know exactly what he has to do. We know him – and in a few weeks he will be in better condition than now.”